Western Digital (fremont), Inc.

Nhk Spring Co., Ltd.

Read Rite Corporation

Edmund B Fanslau, Jr

Muhammad A Hawwa

Yimin Niu

A gimbal assembly of a dual-stage microactuator is provided with a remotely-located piezoelectric transducer (PZT) and at least one actuation strut connecting an asymmetrical amplification structure supporting the PZT to a tongue supporting a slider, such that the movement of the PZT over the asymmetrical amplification structure is amplified by the asymmetrical amplification structure and at least one actuation strut into rotation of the tongue and slider. A plurality of actuation struts connect opposing sides of the asymmetrical amplification structure with opposing sides of the tongue, which causes the tongue to rotate about a central portion of the tongue upon which a dimple of a supporting loadbeam contacts the tongue.

Remote drive rotary head dual stage actuator

An actuator is coupled between a head and a flexure, the actuator providing submicron positioning of the head while reducing undesirable vibrations of the flexure. The actuator includes a stator and a rotor, with a plurality of deformable elements coupled between the stator and the rotor. In one aspect the rotor, stator and deformable elements are constructed so that the rotor has a substantially fixed axis of rotation relative to the stator, and the actuation of a transducer in the head is magnified. In another aspect the rotor is coupled to the head so that the axis of rotation is substantially aligned with the center of mass of the head and rotor, increasing the frequency at which the actuator can move the head and reducing vibrations in the flexure caused by actuation of the head.

Piezoelectric microactuators with substantially fixed axis of rotation and magnified stroke

An actuator is coupled between a head and flexure and gimbal elements, the actuator providing submicron positioning of the head while reducing undesirable vibrations of the flexure and gimbal elements. Such an actuator may have a frame that surrounds a cavity, the frame having an opening disposed adjacent to the head and a wall disposed on an opposite side of the frame from the opening. One or more active elements are disposed in the cavity and attached to the frame, the active element separated from the wall and having a dimension that varies in size in response to a control signal, with a moveable element coupled to the active element and to the head.

Enclosed piezoelectric microactuators coupled between head and suspension

A magnetic head suspension, includes a load beam and a gimbal that supports an air bearing slider, and which provides an electrical connection thereto. The gimbal includes a cantilevered tongue and resiliently deformable tangs that extend laterally from the tongue, within a clearance delineated in part by the tongue. When the tangs are in an unbiased state, they project below the geometric plane of the tongue for contacting the slider and for establishing electrical contact therewith. The tangs can deflect independently during bonding to the slider for maintaining independent spring force against the slider. In one embodiment, the electrical conductive path is connected to ground potential for discharging static electricity generated between the slider and a rotating magnetic disk.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Edmund B Fanslau, Jr